NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has spent the past 16 months sitting on a Cabinet-approved plan to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, despite swelling public pressure for a crackdown.

An email obtained by the ABC shows Cabinet gave its in-principle approval in 2012 to new liquor licensing laws that would have encouraged venues to address violence and forced them to foot the bill for regulations.

The revelations have emerged after the father of Sydney assault victim Daniel Christie delivered an emotional plea for action from the NSW Government at the 18-year-old's funeral.

Michael Christie told mourners yesterday: "It's up to our elected members to set guidelines and a framework to stop this insanity, in the name of all those who have died a violent death or been injured by these acts."

The changes approved by Cabinet would have brought NSW into line with every other state in Australia, forcing licensed venues and alcohol retailers to pay an annual fee and containing incentives to curb violence.

Under the system, which is being considered by the Government again, venues deemed riskier would pay a higher fee based on their location, trading hours, capacity and compliance with the Liquor Act.

The leaked email from within a New South Wales Government authority, dated October 2012, says: "On Monday 17 September 2012, Cabinet approved in principle the introduction of a periodic fee system... to commence from 1 July 2013."

"[Cabinet] agreed that periodic fee levels should be comparable to fee regimes in other Australian jurisdictions," the email said.

Venues currently only pay a one-off licensing fee, regardless of how they are managed, leaving taxpayers to foot much of the bill for the state's liquor regulation and compliance scheme.

Government backbenchers infuriated by delay

The delay has infuriated some NSW Liberal backbenchers.

"This is unbelievable," one told the ABC. "I'm shocked we could have had something in place already".

Another said, "This will blow up the Government."

Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney says the the NSW Government is "in the grip of the liquor lobby."

She says the policy could have saved lives.

"It's unforgiveable," she said. "Particularly with the death of Thomas Kelly [in July 2012] and subsequent tragedies, it is mind-blowing, irresponsible and inconceivable that the Government has been sitting on this policy."

Cabinet to consider 'package of measures' on Monday

In a statement, Hospitality Minister George Souris says the "periodic risk-based licensing scheme" is contained in a "package of measures to address drug and alcohol-fuelled violence [that will] go to Cabinet on Monday".

Mr O'Farrell has promised to deliver a plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence next week but Robert McEwen, the father of another Sydney assault victim, is losing faith.

"Barry's got to be true to his word, he's got to be accountable to the people of NSW," he told the ABC.

"The reluctance to tackle these issues suggests to me that maybe there's a lack of transparency there."